Federal Court Halts Deportation of El Salvador Native, Ruling He Gained US Citizenship

The Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals found that Mario Rene Lopez technically became a U.S. citizen decades ago when his mother naturalized.

Published on Feb. 16, 2026

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A federal appeals court has stopped the deportation of Mario Rene Lopez, a man who has lived in the United States since he was 11 years old. The court ruled that Lopez technically became an American citizen decades ago when his mother, who he moved to the U.S. to join, became a naturalized citizen. The legal battle focused on a specific clause of the 1952 Immigration and Nationality Act regarding children born out of wedlock.

Why it matters

This case highlights the complex legal issues surrounding citizenship and immigration, especially for individuals who were born outside the U.S. but have lived here for most of their lives. The court's decision could have broader implications for others in similar situations and may lead to the Supreme Court weighing in on how older immigration laws interact with the evolving family laws of foreign nations.

The details

The Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals found that under the rules in place in 1998, when Lopez's mother became a naturalized citizen, her naturalization automatically granted Lopez citizenship as well. Federal prosecutors had argued that because Lopez's biological father had signed his birth certificate in El Salvador, his paternity was established, and a 1983 change to the Salvadoran constitution effectively 'legitimated' him. However, the court disagreed, stating that simply signing a birth certificate is not the same as 'legitimation' as the term was understood when the law was written.

  • Lopez was born in El Salvador in 1981.
  • Lopez moved to the U.S. to join his mother when he was a child.
  • At age 16, Lopez's mother became a naturalized U.S. citizen in 1998.
  • Lopez was involved in years of litigation, including drug-related criminal convictions that originally triggered the removal proceedings.
  • The Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals handed down its ruling on Friday, February 16, 2026.

The players

Mario Rene Lopez

A man born in El Salvador in 1981 who has lived in the United States since he was 11 years old and is now fighting deportation.

Pamela Bondi

The U.S. Attorney General who was a defendant in the case against Lopez.

Judge Toby Heytens

The judge who wrote the opinion for the three-judge panel of the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals.

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What they’re saying

“Until the claim of citizenship is resolved, the propriety of the entire proceeding is in doubt.”

— Judge Toby Heytens, Judge, Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals

What’s next

The government may decide to appeal the Fourth Circuit's ruling to the Supreme Court, which could lead the high court to weigh in on the complex legal issues surrounding this case.

The takeaway

This case highlights the nuances and challenges in determining citizenship status, especially for individuals who were born outside the U.S. but have lived here for most of their lives. The court's decision underscores the importance of carefully interpreting immigration laws in the context of evolving family laws in other countries.